200 Greatest "Roots of Rock"
Songs of the 1940s
Criteria: These songs were selected and ranked based on their influence and importance in leading to the emergence of rock 'n' roll as a genre unto itself, and also on each song's initial popularity, lasting popularity and impact. If there were two or more versions of a song that were fairly equal in significance then each artist is listed in that song's slot. (Artists in parenthesis are the vocalist for that recording)
Roots of Rock Songs 1940s
1. Good Rockin' Tonight
Wynonie Harris
2. It's Too Soon To Know
Orioles
3. Caldonia
Louis Jordan
4. The Honeydripper
Joe Liggins
5. Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
Louis Jordan
Wynonie Harris
2. It's Too Soon To Know
Orioles
3. Caldonia
Louis Jordan
4. The Honeydripper
Joe Liggins
5. Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
Louis Jordan
6. Straighten Up And Fly Right
King Cole Trio
7. Lovesick Blues
Hank Williams
8. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
Stick McGhee & His Buddies
9. Saturday Night Fish Fry
Louis Jordan
10. Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop
Lionel Hampton
11. Till Then
Mills Brothers
12. Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well
Lucky Millinder (Wynonie Harris)
13. Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Louis Jordan
14. Chicken-Shack Boogie
Amos Milburn
15. The Hucklebuck
Paul Williams
16. Merry Christmas Baby
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
17. Tomorrow Night
Lonnie Johnson
18. Let The Good Times Roll
Louis Jordan
19. Move It On Over
Hank Williams
20. Cherry Red Blues
Cootie Williams (Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson)
21. Blues In The Night
Jimmie Lunceford
22. God Bless The Child
Billie Holiday
23. Get Your Kicks On Route 66
King Cole Trio
24. Flying Home
Lionel Hampton featuring Illinois Jacquet
25. Drifting Blues
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
26. Walking The Floor Over You
Ernest Tubb
27. Boogie Chillen'
John Lee Hooker
28. The Christmas Song
King Cole Trio
29. G.I. Jive
Louis Jordan
30. Call It Stormy Monday
T-Bone Walker
31. I'll Get Along Somehow
Larry Darnell
32. Buzz Me
Louis Jordan
33. Confessin' The Blues
Jay McShann (Walter Brown)
34. Jack, You're Dead
Louis Jordan
35. Honky Tonkin'
Hank Williams
36. Don't Cry, Baby
Erskine Hawkins (Jimmy Mitchelle)
37. Fine Brown Frame
Nellie Lutcher
38. Romance In The Dark
Lil Green
39. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Hank Williams
40. Ol' Man River
Ravens
41. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
Ink Spots
42. Blues Stay Away From Me
Delmore Brothers
43. New San Antonio Rose
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
44. Ain't That Just Like A Woman
Louis Jordan
45. Ain't Nobody's Business
Jimmy Witherspoon
46. For You My Love
Larry Darnell
47. Pistol Packin' Mama
Al Dexter & His Troopers
48. White Christmas
Ravens
49. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
Orioles
50. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Bill Monroe
51. The Deacon's Hop
Big Jay McNeely
52. King Size Papa
Julia Lee
53. That's My Desire
Frankie Laine / Hadda Brooks
54. Boogie Woogie Blue Plate
Louis Jordan
55. Open The Door Richard
Dusty Fletcher / Jack McVea / Louis Jordan
56. Long Gone
Sonny Thompson
57. Tippin' In
Erskine Hawkins
58. Long John Blues
Dinah Washington
59. Bewildered
Amos Milburn / Red Miller Trio
60. Good Rockin' Tonight
Roy Brown
61. Shout, Sister, Shout
Lucky Millinder (Sister Rosetta Tharpe)
62. Tell Me So
Orioles
63. Trouble Blues
Charles Brown
64. I Wonder
Private Cecil Gant / Roosevelt Sykes
65. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
Louis Jordan / Jimmie Lunceford
66. All She Wants To Do Is Rock
Wynonie Harris
67. Rockin' At Midnight
Roy Brown
68. See See Rider Blues
Bea Booze
69. I Almost Lost My Mind
Ivory Joe Hunter
70. When Things Go Wrong With You
Tampa Red
71. Cow Cow Boogie
Ella Fitzgerald & the Ink Spots / Freddie Slack (Ella Mae Morse)
72. Why Don't You Do Right?
Lil Green / Benny Goodman (Peggy Lee)
73. Move On Up A Little Higher
Mahalia Jackson
74. Pretty Mama Blues
Ivory Joe Hunter
75. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
Louis Jordan
76. Rock The Joint
Jimmy Preston
77. Sweet Georgia Brown
Brother Bones
78. Run, Joe
Louis Jordan
79. Boogie At Midnight
Roy Brown
80. That's All Right
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
81. Strange Things Happening
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
82. Stormy Monday Blues
Earl Hines (Billy Eckstine)
83. R.M. Blues
Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
84. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It
Hank Williams
85. Be-Baba-Leba
Helen Humes
86. Blues For The Red Boy
Todd Rhodes
87. Tennessee Saturday Night
Red Foley
88. Blow Top Blues
Lionel Hampton (Dinah Washington)
89. Snatch And Grab It
Julia Lee
90. Corn Bread
Hal Singer
91. So Glad You're Mine
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
92. Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me
Bullmoose Jackson
93. The House Of Blue Lights
Freddie Slack (Ella Mae Morse)
94. (I Feel Like) Going Home
Muddy Waters
95. Junker Blues
Champion Jack Dupree
96. Long About Midnight
Roy Brown
97. That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch
Buddy Johnson (Ella Johnson)
98. Shake The Boogie
Sonny Boy Williamson
99. S.K. Blues
Pete Johnson (Joe Turner)
100. We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll
Wild Bill Moore
King Cole Trio
7. Lovesick Blues
Hank Williams
8. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
Stick McGhee & His Buddies
9. Saturday Night Fish Fry
Louis Jordan
10. Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop
Lionel Hampton
11. Till Then
Mills Brothers
12. Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well
Lucky Millinder (Wynonie Harris)
13. Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Louis Jordan
14. Chicken-Shack Boogie
Amos Milburn
15. The Hucklebuck
Paul Williams
16. Merry Christmas Baby
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
17. Tomorrow Night
Lonnie Johnson
18. Let The Good Times Roll
Louis Jordan
19. Move It On Over
Hank Williams
20. Cherry Red Blues
Cootie Williams (Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson)
21. Blues In The Night
Jimmie Lunceford
22. God Bless The Child
Billie Holiday
23. Get Your Kicks On Route 66
King Cole Trio
24. Flying Home
Lionel Hampton featuring Illinois Jacquet
25. Drifting Blues
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
26. Walking The Floor Over You
Ernest Tubb
27. Boogie Chillen'
John Lee Hooker
28. The Christmas Song
King Cole Trio
29. G.I. Jive
Louis Jordan
30. Call It Stormy Monday
T-Bone Walker
31. I'll Get Along Somehow
Larry Darnell
32. Buzz Me
Louis Jordan
33. Confessin' The Blues
Jay McShann (Walter Brown)
34. Jack, You're Dead
Louis Jordan
35. Honky Tonkin'
Hank Williams
36. Don't Cry, Baby
Erskine Hawkins (Jimmy Mitchelle)
37. Fine Brown Frame
Nellie Lutcher
38. Romance In The Dark
Lil Green
39. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Hank Williams
40. Ol' Man River
Ravens
41. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
Ink Spots
42. Blues Stay Away From Me
Delmore Brothers
43. New San Antonio Rose
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
44. Ain't That Just Like A Woman
Louis Jordan
45. Ain't Nobody's Business
Jimmy Witherspoon
46. For You My Love
Larry Darnell
47. Pistol Packin' Mama
Al Dexter & His Troopers
48. White Christmas
Ravens
49. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
Orioles
50. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Bill Monroe
51. The Deacon's Hop
Big Jay McNeely
52. King Size Papa
Julia Lee
53. That's My Desire
Frankie Laine / Hadda Brooks
54. Boogie Woogie Blue Plate
Louis Jordan
55. Open The Door Richard
Dusty Fletcher / Jack McVea / Louis Jordan
56. Long Gone
Sonny Thompson
57. Tippin' In
Erskine Hawkins
58. Long John Blues
Dinah Washington
59. Bewildered
Amos Milburn / Red Miller Trio
60. Good Rockin' Tonight
Roy Brown
61. Shout, Sister, Shout
Lucky Millinder (Sister Rosetta Tharpe)
62. Tell Me So
Orioles
63. Trouble Blues
Charles Brown
64. I Wonder
Private Cecil Gant / Roosevelt Sykes
65. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
Louis Jordan / Jimmie Lunceford
66. All She Wants To Do Is Rock
Wynonie Harris
67. Rockin' At Midnight
Roy Brown
68. See See Rider Blues
Bea Booze
69. I Almost Lost My Mind
Ivory Joe Hunter
70. When Things Go Wrong With You
Tampa Red
71. Cow Cow Boogie
Ella Fitzgerald & the Ink Spots / Freddie Slack (Ella Mae Morse)
72. Why Don't You Do Right?
Lil Green / Benny Goodman (Peggy Lee)
73. Move On Up A Little Higher
Mahalia Jackson
74. Pretty Mama Blues
Ivory Joe Hunter
75. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
Louis Jordan
76. Rock The Joint
Jimmy Preston
77. Sweet Georgia Brown
Brother Bones
78. Run, Joe
Louis Jordan
79. Boogie At Midnight
Roy Brown
80. That's All Right
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
81. Strange Things Happening
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
82. Stormy Monday Blues
Earl Hines (Billy Eckstine)
83. R.M. Blues
Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
84. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It
Hank Williams
85. Be-Baba-Leba
Helen Humes
86. Blues For The Red Boy
Todd Rhodes
87. Tennessee Saturday Night
Red Foley
88. Blow Top Blues
Lionel Hampton (Dinah Washington)
89. Snatch And Grab It
Julia Lee
90. Corn Bread
Hal Singer
91. So Glad You're Mine
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
92. Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me
Bullmoose Jackson
93. The House Of Blue Lights
Freddie Slack (Ella Mae Morse)
94. (I Feel Like) Going Home
Muddy Waters
95. Junker Blues
Champion Jack Dupree
96. Long About Midnight
Roy Brown
97. That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch
Buddy Johnson (Ella Johnson)
98. Shake The Boogie
Sonny Boy Williamson
99. S.K. Blues
Pete Johnson (Joe Turner)
100. We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll
Wild Bill Moore
101. I Can't Be Satisfied
Muddy Waters
102. Baby Please Don't Go
Big Joe Williams
103. Down The Road A Piece
Will Bradley / Amos Milburn
104. Jimmy's Blues
Count Basie (Jimmy Rushing)
105. Got A Right To Cry
Joe Liggins
106. Midnight Special
Leadbelly (Golden Gate Quartet)
107. Key To The Highway
Big Bill Broonzy
108. Since I Fell For You
Paul Gayten (Annie Laurie) / Buddy & Ella Johnson
109. I Love You, Yes I Do
Bullmoose Jackson
110. I Want To Be Loved
Savannah Churchill
111. Let's Have A Ball
Jack Dupree Trio
112. Evil Gal Blues
Lionel Hampton (Dinah Washington)
113. Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'
Delta Rhythm Boys
114. Jole Blon
Harry Choates / Moon Mullican
115. Kidney Stew Blues
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
116. Rock Me, Mama
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
117. Sneaky Pete
Bullmoose Jackson
118. Take It And Git
Andy Kirk
119. You Always Hurt The One You Love
Mills Brothers
120. Cadillac Boogie
Jimmy Liggins
121. A Little Bird Told Me
Paula Watson
122. Riders In The Sky
Vaughn Monroe
123. Mule Train
Frankie Laine / Tennessee Ernie Ford
124. My Heart Belongs To You
Arbee Stidham
125. Messin' Around
Memphis Slim
126. Blues After Hours
Pee Wee Crayton
127. 3 X 7 = 21
Jewel King
128. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
Red Foley
129. Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
130. Hop, Skip And Jump
Roy Milton
131. West Side Baby
T-Bone Walker / Dinah Washington
132. Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar
Will Bradley
133. I Know Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well
Bullmoose Jackson
134. Smoke! Smoke! Smoke (That Cigarette)
Tex Williams
135. Step It Up And Go
Blind Boy Fuller
136. Somebody's Gotta Go
Cootie Williams (Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson)
137. Guitar Boogie
Arthur Smith
138. Hurry, Hurry
Benny Carter (Savannah Churchill)
139. Old Maid Boogie
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
140. Boogie Blues
Gene Krupa (Anita O'Day)
141. That Lucky Old Sun
Frankie Laine
142. Rag Mop
Johnnie Lee Wills
143. Lollipop Mama
Wynonie Harris
144. Miss Fanny Brown
Roy Brown
145. So Long
Ruth Brown
146. Country Boy
Dave Bartholomew
147. Sweet Black Angel
Robert Nighthawk
148. Five Guys Named Moe
Louis Jordan
149. My Gal's A Jockey
Joe Turner
150. Worried Life Blues
Big Maceo
151. There's Good Blues Tonight
Lucky Millinder (Anisteen Allen)
152. New Orleans Blues
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
153. I Miss You So
Cats And The Fiddle
154. For Sentimental Reasons - King Cole Trio
155. Don't You Lie To Me
Tampa Red
156. Beware, Brother, Beware
Louis Jordan
157. Let Me Play With Your Poodle
Tampa Red
158. Mop Mop
Louis Jordan
159. Sally Zu-Zazz
Joe Turner
160. Am I Asking Too Much
Dinah Washington
161. Reet Petite And Gone
Louis Jordan
162. Three O'Clock Blues
Lowell Fulson
163. I Want A Bowlegged Woman
Bullmoose Jackson
164. Voo-it!! Voo-it!!
Blues Woman (Marion Abernathy)
165. Baby, Get Lost
Dinah Washington
166. Sittin' On It All The Time
Wynonie Harris
167. Roomin' House Boogie
Amos Milburn
168. Blues At Sunrise
Ivory Joe Hunter
169. Grandma Plays The Numbers
Wynonie Harris
170. Pot Likker
Todd Rhodes
171. When My Man Comes Home
Buddy & Ella Johnson
172. Paper Doll
Mills Brothers
173. The Gypsy
Ink Spots
174. Texarkana Baby
Eddy Arnold
175. Sneakin' Around
Rudy Render
176. Roly-Poly
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
177. Born To Lose
Ted Daffan (Leon Seago)
178. Wynonie's Blues
Wynonie Harris
179. That Chick's Too Young To Fry
Louis Jordan
180. Texas Hop
Pee Wee Crayton
181. Cocaine Blues
Roy Hogsed
182. Gloria
Mills Brothers / Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
183. Hold Me, Baby
Amos Milburn
184. Broken Hearted
Eddie Williams (Floyd Dixon)
185. Mind Your Own Business
Hank Williams
186. Solo Flight
Benny Goodman (Charlie Christian)
187. Deacon Jones
Louis Jordan
188. Corrine, Corrina
Joe Turner
189. Sail On Boogie
T-Bone Walker
190. Rusty Dusty Blues
Count Basie (JImmy Rushing)
191. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
King Cole Trio
192. Harlem Nocturne
Johnny Otis
193. Mardi Gras
Joe Lutcher
194. Mr. Five By Five
Freddie Slack
195. Swingin' The Boogie
Hadda Brooks
196. Texas And Pacific
Louis Jordan
197. Write Me A Letter
Ravens
198. You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Gone)
Lowell Fulson
199. (It's Gonna Be A) Lonely Christmas
Orioles
200. Irene
Leadbelly
Muddy Waters
102. Baby Please Don't Go
Big Joe Williams
103. Down The Road A Piece
Will Bradley / Amos Milburn
104. Jimmy's Blues
Count Basie (Jimmy Rushing)
105. Got A Right To Cry
Joe Liggins
106. Midnight Special
Leadbelly (Golden Gate Quartet)
107. Key To The Highway
Big Bill Broonzy
108. Since I Fell For You
Paul Gayten (Annie Laurie) / Buddy & Ella Johnson
109. I Love You, Yes I Do
Bullmoose Jackson
110. I Want To Be Loved
Savannah Churchill
111. Let's Have A Ball
Jack Dupree Trio
112. Evil Gal Blues
Lionel Hampton (Dinah Washington)
113. Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'
Delta Rhythm Boys
114. Jole Blon
Harry Choates / Moon Mullican
115. Kidney Stew Blues
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
116. Rock Me, Mama
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
117. Sneaky Pete
Bullmoose Jackson
118. Take It And Git
Andy Kirk
119. You Always Hurt The One You Love
Mills Brothers
120. Cadillac Boogie
Jimmy Liggins
121. A Little Bird Told Me
Paula Watson
122. Riders In The Sky
Vaughn Monroe
123. Mule Train
Frankie Laine / Tennessee Ernie Ford
124. My Heart Belongs To You
Arbee Stidham
125. Messin' Around
Memphis Slim
126. Blues After Hours
Pee Wee Crayton
127. 3 X 7 = 21
Jewel King
128. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
Red Foley
129. Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
130. Hop, Skip And Jump
Roy Milton
131. West Side Baby
T-Bone Walker / Dinah Washington
132. Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar
Will Bradley
133. I Know Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well
Bullmoose Jackson
134. Smoke! Smoke! Smoke (That Cigarette)
Tex Williams
135. Step It Up And Go
Blind Boy Fuller
136. Somebody's Gotta Go
Cootie Williams (Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson)
137. Guitar Boogie
Arthur Smith
138. Hurry, Hurry
Benny Carter (Savannah Churchill)
139. Old Maid Boogie
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
140. Boogie Blues
Gene Krupa (Anita O'Day)
141. That Lucky Old Sun
Frankie Laine
142. Rag Mop
Johnnie Lee Wills
143. Lollipop Mama
Wynonie Harris
144. Miss Fanny Brown
Roy Brown
145. So Long
Ruth Brown
146. Country Boy
Dave Bartholomew
147. Sweet Black Angel
Robert Nighthawk
148. Five Guys Named Moe
Louis Jordan
149. My Gal's A Jockey
Joe Turner
150. Worried Life Blues
Big Maceo
151. There's Good Blues Tonight
Lucky Millinder (Anisteen Allen)
152. New Orleans Blues
Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
153. I Miss You So
Cats And The Fiddle
154. For Sentimental Reasons - King Cole Trio
155. Don't You Lie To Me
Tampa Red
156. Beware, Brother, Beware
Louis Jordan
157. Let Me Play With Your Poodle
Tampa Red
158. Mop Mop
Louis Jordan
159. Sally Zu-Zazz
Joe Turner
160. Am I Asking Too Much
Dinah Washington
161. Reet Petite And Gone
Louis Jordan
162. Three O'Clock Blues
Lowell Fulson
163. I Want A Bowlegged Woman
Bullmoose Jackson
164. Voo-it!! Voo-it!!
Blues Woman (Marion Abernathy)
165. Baby, Get Lost
Dinah Washington
166. Sittin' On It All The Time
Wynonie Harris
167. Roomin' House Boogie
Amos Milburn
168. Blues At Sunrise
Ivory Joe Hunter
169. Grandma Plays The Numbers
Wynonie Harris
170. Pot Likker
Todd Rhodes
171. When My Man Comes Home
Buddy & Ella Johnson
172. Paper Doll
Mills Brothers
173. The Gypsy
Ink Spots
174. Texarkana Baby
Eddy Arnold
175. Sneakin' Around
Rudy Render
176. Roly-Poly
Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
177. Born To Lose
Ted Daffan (Leon Seago)
178. Wynonie's Blues
Wynonie Harris
179. That Chick's Too Young To Fry
Louis Jordan
180. Texas Hop
Pee Wee Crayton
181. Cocaine Blues
Roy Hogsed
182. Gloria
Mills Brothers / Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown)
183. Hold Me, Baby
Amos Milburn
184. Broken Hearted
Eddie Williams (Floyd Dixon)
185. Mind Your Own Business
Hank Williams
186. Solo Flight
Benny Goodman (Charlie Christian)
187. Deacon Jones
Louis Jordan
188. Corrine, Corrina
Joe Turner
189. Sail On Boogie
T-Bone Walker
190. Rusty Dusty Blues
Count Basie (JImmy Rushing)
191. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
King Cole Trio
192. Harlem Nocturne
Johnny Otis
193. Mardi Gras
Joe Lutcher
194. Mr. Five By Five
Freddie Slack
195. Swingin' The Boogie
Hadda Brooks
196. Texas And Pacific
Louis Jordan
197. Write Me A Letter
Ravens
198. You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Gone)
Lowell Fulson
199. (It's Gonna Be A) Lonely Christmas
Orioles
200. Irene
Leadbelly
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Edited By: Bruce
Last Updated: 2021-09-17
Newly added names are in Red
Last Updated: 2021-09-17
Newly added names are in Red